NETWORK Rail has put up a £10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of cable thieves in north Warwickshire.

British Transport Police is appealing to the public for information regarding the theft of 40 metres of signalling cable around the Parkhall Wood area on Saturday April 28 at around 12.40am. A separate theft involved 70 metres of live cables stolen from the line at Marsh End on Thursday May 3. Both incidents caused considerable disruption and delays to rail services in the Midlands and beyond, causing major inconvenience for thousands of rail passengers.

Det Insp John Pyke, who is leading the BTP investigation, said he is keen to trace the occupants of a vehicle seen in the area on Saturday April 28. The vehicle is a silver 2002/3 Renault Clio with a metallic finish, black bumpers, darkened windows, and possibly a lower suspension than usual.

He said: “The theft of railway cable is not just an attack on the railways – it is an attack on your community. It causes huge inconvenience to people who are unable to travel, or miss important appointments.”